A clockwork orange shows a twisted version of Pavlov's idea of classical conditioning. In Stanley Kubric's rendition of the novel the protagonist Alexander Delarge opts to become a participant in a psychological experiment to make him "good" in only a month of treatment. He is first administered a shot of a serum which is the unconditioned stimulus. The serum brings about extreme feelings of nausea, this is the conditioned stimulus. Then he is strapped into a chair with his eyes forced open and forced to watch videos of "ultra-violence". The videos of violence is the neutral stimulus. Alex associates his feelings of extreme nausea with violence. The idea is that every time he witnesses violence it will bring about extreme nausea and he will never be able to act violently, in this manner the treatment is successful.
A lighter example of classical conditioning can be seen in this video...
watch from 6:19-7:25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pw_eX97TUw&feature=related
Once Alex's inability to commit acts of violence the prison reverand brings up a crucial point. He says that Goodness comes from within and must be chosen, If a man cannot choose he ceases to become a man. It is impossible to be good if you cannot choose.
The picture shows a fork in the road. This is a classic symbol of a choice. Alex would be incapable of making the decision to go left or right. It is chosen for him. He cannot decide to be good or bad, his body forces him to not act violently
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